Self adjusting gr



(No M0881.)

A. BECKERS.

SELF ADJUSTING GRAPPLB.

No. 888,108. Patented Aug. I21, 1888.

nrnsns. mwumgmpw. wuningxm b c UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

ALEXANDER BEOKERS, OF HOBOKEN, NEV JERSEY.

SELF-ADJUSTING GRAPPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,109, dated August21, 1888.

Application filed April 19, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BEckERs, of Hoboken, county of Hudson, andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Self-Adj listing Grapples, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to means employed for grasping and raising (orlowering) masses of solid matter, and particularly rocks and stones,from beneath the surface of water; but my improved device may beemployed in other situations and for other uses, as will be seen from aconsideration of its construction.

Devices of the general class to which my in vention pertains arecommonly known as grapples7 being employed to grapple stones or rocks,stumps, timbers, or piles, and all manner of irregular objects which itmay be desired to move.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a simple, strong, andpowerful grapple which will automatically adjust itself to any irregularsurface or object and seize or grapple the same at three points not inline with each other, thus insuring a firm hold upon the object andobviating slipping or turning thereof 5 and secondary objects are to soconstruct the grapple that it may be employed for elevating anddischarging numbers of small objects, as broken stone, coal, 85e., andsecure certain advantages in the matters of construction and operation,as will hereinafter appear.

To accomplish all of this my improvements involve the application of amovable or adjustable tripod or frame in connection with three hingedjaws or claws of the grapple, and certain new and useful peculiaritiesof construction, relative arrangements, or combinations of parts andprinciples of operation, all of which will be herein tirst fullydescribed, and then pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, Figurelis a View in elevation representing my improved grapple open (or partly open) ready to take its load. Fig. 2 is also a View in elevation,but showing the hooks or claws closed, forming a cage or bucket. Fig. 3is a sectional View upon a scale Serial No. 271,184. (No model.)

enlarged beyond previous figures,showing the manner of mounting thetripod so that it may tilt or tip to conform to the position required bythe shape of the object being grappled. Fig. 4 is a plan view showingthe tripod and the grapple below it. Fig. 5 is a plan of any object ofany irregular form which may be seized or grappled by the improveddevice at any three points not on the same side.

In all these figures like letters of reference, wherever they occur,indicate corresponding parts.

A A A are the jaws or claws of the grapple. These are three in number,which, in order that they may be am ply strong, are preferably made ofsteel, (though, of course, other metal might be used,) and they are cachhinged to a top plate or block, B, of general triangular shape, thehinges a a a being as long as convenient, so as to provide against anyside racking or twisting under heavy loads. The jaws are so fashionedthat they will close together, as in Fig. 2, when desired, and they areswelled out from point to hinge to contribute strength and stiffness,and so that when used as a cage orl basket or bucket the grapple maycontain a considerable quantity of material. The jaws are built up ofopen-work suitably braced so that the bucket or cage may be drained. Thegrapple is mounted upon the end of a rod, C, which slides up and downindependently of an outer tube or sleeve, D. The sleeve D is carried byany suitable rope, chain, or cable connection, E, by which the wholemachine may be raised or lowered after the manner of grapples of itsgeneral class. The rod or tube C is raised or lowered through the mediumof an independent chain, rope, or cable,F. This, in the form shown,revolves a wheel, G, to which are applied two smaller wheels or drums, HH, over which are wound the chains, ropes, or cables which connect withthe rod or tube C. Direct connection might, of course, be made betweenchain or cable F and rod C; but by multiplying the power in the mannerindicated, or in any other manner substantially the same, a morepowerful closing of the jaws together is insured, and thus a more securegrasp upon the object is attained, as is well understood.

I is a tripod or other frame mounted upon IOO the sleeve D, and mountedin such a way that it may tip or tilt toward either point or in anydirection. It is made amply heavy, and the mounting consists of aball-and-socket joint, of which K is the ball, secured upon the lowerend of sleeve D, and of which the socket-plates are represented at L L.This is the simplest and best form of joint for the tripod which I havebeen able to devise. It answers all the required purposes, but for manyuses may be varlously modified, so that the required universal tippingbe permitted.

From the ends of the tripodor frame hinged rods M M M are connected withthe hinged jaws. These rods are rigid or unyielding, eX- cept at thehinges, so as to properly transmit the strains between the tripod andjaws and hold the latter firmly. When the rod or bar C is elevated withrespect to D, it is plain that the jaws must close toward each other.In'grappling any irregular object-as. for instance, that intended to beshown in Fig. 5- the grapple is lowered over it and the rod C elevated.The jaws commence to close and move until two of them come in cont-actwith the object-'say at the points ab and y. Then as the straincontinues the tripod tips until the other jaw or claw reaches itsnearest pointsay at z-and in this manner the object is seized at threepoints, so that when it leaves its bed it cannot tip sufficiently tofree it from the grapple, as frequently occurs when seized only at twopoints, as in former constructions.

No matter how irregular may be the shape of the object, the improvedgrapple always conforms to it and seizes it at three points, from whichit cannot escape. When once seized, the object is quite certainlyhelduntil released by elevating the sleeve D. The saving thus effected inraising and lowering the grapple after ineffectual attempts to grasp aload will be readily understood and appreciated by those accustomed towork with such machines.

While principally intended to grapple heavy gather their load.

jaws to touch the material, no matter how much it may be inclined. Then,by raising on the bucket, the jaws at once commence to With but twoshells, as formerly constructed, if one touches the bank and the othernot, the dipper comes up withoutfits load.

The uses of the improved grapple are many adapted, and when constructedsubstantially in accordance with the explanations given it will be foundto admirably answer the objects of the invention, as previously setforth.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a grapple, the three jaws hinged upon a triangular base, and atripod connected with said jawsv by thehinged rigid rodsand mounted upona ball-and-socket joint, the parts being combined and arranged foroperation, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a grapple, the opeirwork jaws hinged upon a triangular base-piece,the tipping or tilting tripod connected with said jaws by the hingedrigid rods, the operating rods or sleeves, and hoisting chains or cablesconnected with .the tripod and jaws, all combined and arrangedsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth. In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALEXANDER BEGKERS. Witnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, Y WORTH OsGooD.

